Village developed at the foot of its castleSaint-Floret was called Roche la Couze before the Revolution, because of the rocky lock formed by the two spurs which dominate the Couze-Pavina small river that crosses the village.
The town is located 36 km south of Clermont-Ferrand and 12 km west of Issoire. Saint-Floret has 260 inhabitants.
website of the municipality of Saint-Floret
The castle of Saint-Floret
The castle of Saint-Floret is part of the Route des Châteaux d’Auvergne
Leaning against the rocks, the 13th century castle arouses curiosity and wonder.
Its dungeon contains a vaulted hall in gothic style which served as a temple for Protestants in the 17th century. On the north and south walls of the room, remarkable frescoes painted in the 14th century tell the story of the romance of Tristan and Iseult.
History with Johanne Jourdain, tourist guide in Saint-Floret.
– @town hall of Saint-Floret
The construction of the castle is dated from the 13th century. In 1225, the Count of Clermont offered the domain of Saint-Floret to one of his faithful companions. He asks him to build a fortress there and ensure the security of the country. In the 14th century, one of his successors had a magnificent gothic hall built, 9.6 m square, lined with twelve ribs and a keystone representing a sun with a human face.
Around 1370, around forty frescoes representing the novel of Tristan and Iseult were painted in honor of the arrival of the Duke of Berry. Thirteen still exist today.
A second room has been open to the public since 2011. A beautiful frame and a remnant of the period tiled floor are to be admired.
Since 2011, you can discover the panoramic view of the Castle Keep.
– Christopher Barbot
Chastel’s website
Le Chastel dominates the village. The 12th and 13th century chapel, with its 16th century bell tower, is surrounded by the town cemetery.: a unique archaeological site with anthropomorphic rock tombs from the High Middle Ages, dominated by a pyramidal ossuary and a chapel from the 12th and 13th centuries
Johanne Jourdain, tourist guide in Saint-Floret makes us discover this superb site of Chastel.
– Christopher Barbot
At the entrance to the sacristy, a 14th-century Virgin and Child in marble by Nonette shows Jesus stroking a bird with his foot. Other marvels can be contemplated inside the Church (paintings on the walls, a funerary liter, a paperolle, a 17th century altar, flamboyant Gothic style, work of the companions).
– Christopher Barbot
At the top of the hill dominates the ossarium or ossuary. It covers a well more than 5 meters deep, filled with bones. The pyramid-shaped building dates from the 9th century, but the place itself has an older origin which could date back to the 1st century.
– Christopher Barbot
Visits and entertainment in Saint-Floret
Heritage tours of Saint-Floret take place until September 25, 2022.
Guided tour of the castle of Saint-Floret and the archaeological site of Chastel. They take place in the afternoons in April, May, June and September and also in the morning in July and August.
These tours are free. get information quickly at the town hall of Saint-Floret
May 20, 21 and 22 2022, the municipality of Saint-Floret organizes, with the ARA Region, the Spring of the Cemeteries. Free tours of the Chastel site are scheduled every 3 days, from 2 p.m.
– Christopher Barbot
Auvergne truffle
– Christopher Barbot
Saint-Floret is proud to have the Europe’s first truffle producing cedars.
Do you know the truffles of Auvergne? Explanations by Patrick Peron, president of the Auvergne truffle growers.
It all started with an experiment with the planting of a hundred trees. And the results have been extraordinary with the Tuber uncinatum, because this truffle grows in the shade.
Advice from Patrick, if you want a good truffle sniffing dog, prefer a female to a male!!
Contact Patrick Peron: 06 08 51 79 94
Ironworker – Philippe Claudepierre
– Christopher Barbot
Philippe Claudepierre is an artistic ironworker. He has been working with steel and stainless steel since 2011 in Saint-Floret. It was by chance that he discovered this beautiful village of Saint-Floret more than 10 years ago, which he will never leave. He prioritizes quality over quantity. Impeccable work is the leitmotif of Philippe Claudepierre
Ironwork has always been the decorative extension of buildings. Here, we manufacture stairs, railings and wrought iron design items.
Discover the work of Philippe Claudepierre
Artisan Tiler – Philippe Chiocci
– Christopher Barbot
Installed for 7 years in Saint Floret, Philippe Chiocci is a talented craftsman. He was among the 6 finalists for the best craftsmen in France in 2021 in his specialty, tiling. We discover together the career and the know-how of Philippe Chiocci.
Philippe Chiocci was born in the Alpes-Maritimes. His father was a construction and public works contractor. His maternal grandfather had a marble exploitation in Carrara in Italy. His paternal grandfather had a cement business where he mass-produced pipes.
At the age of 20, he joined a company in Peymeinade which does landscaping. His passion will thus develop, becoming a specialist in this branch.
Contact Philippe Chiocci: 06 30 17 01 94
Les mains dirty soap factory production workshop
An olfactory pleasure already upon entering Florence Bataille’s production workshop: the Les Mains Sales soap factory. All products are handcrafted, mainly fromvirgin vegetable oils, first cold pressing and not deodorized. No added preservatives, synthetic fragrances or palm oil.
The raw materials used are raw and have not undergone any transformation. They are of course all from organic farming and as local as possible.
– Christopher Barbot
Florence Bataille makes her soaps using the ancestral method of cold saponification, which makes it possible to produce superfatted and glycerin-rich soaps, which are therefore very soft and moisturizing. This method is fully in line with a sustainable approach, as it requires very little energy, consumes little water and produces no waste.
Its objective is to offer us healthy products, from simple ingredients, without unnecessary additions, and above all in an ecological and sustainable approach.
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– Christopher Barbot
Don’t miss the exceptional panorama from the Chastel site. View of the Sancy still snow-covered this Saturday April 9 but also a bird’s eye view of the whole village.
Discover all our walks in Auvergne